Vertical filing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The apparatus includes a clamp assembly for holding at least one sheet of material in a vertical zone and a bracket assembly on which the clamp assembly is removably mounted. The clamp assembly includes a longitudinal member which has a longitudinally extending groove in each side. The bracket assembly includes a support member having, at its lower side, inturned flanges dimensioned for positioning in said grooves. A plastic end cap at each end of the longitudinal member also has longitudinally extending grooves therein; however, the top wall of the groove is disposed below the corresponding top wall of the groove in the longitudinal member to provide a bearing surface for riding on the inturned flanges during insertion and removal of the longitudinal member on the support member.

[451 Apr. 24,1973

1 1 VERTICAL FILING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Victor J. Kritske,Sheboygan, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Mayline Company, llnc., Sheboygan,

Wis.

[22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 226,106

521 U.S.Cl......- ..2ll/46,211/96,248/205 R,

1 248/3168 51 Int. Cl ..A47f 5/08, A47f7/16 [58] FieldofSearch ..2l1/46,48, 47, 50,

211/89, 94, 96, 124, 162, 169, 168; 24/67.l, 248 R, 248 SA, 251; 248/205R, 316 B, 316

Morcheles et a1. .2] H48 Kritske ..24/67.1 Manning et al .2] H94 PrimaryExaminfi-Ramon S. Britts Attorney-Robert Muir [57] ABSTRACT Theapparatus includes a clamp assembly for holding at least one sheet ofmaterial in a vertical zone and a bracket assembly on which the clampassembly is removably mounted. The clamp assembly includes alongitudinal member which has a longitudinally extending groove in eachside. The bracket assembly includes a support member having, at itslower side, in turned flanges dimensioned for positioning in saidgrooves. A plastic end cap at each end of the longitudinal member alsohas longitudinally extending grooves therein; however, the top wall ofthe groove is disposed below the corresponding top wall of the groove inthe longitudinal member to provide a bearing surface for riding on theinturned flanges during insertion and removal of the longitudinal memberon the support member.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 3,729,099

2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented April 24; 1973 3,729,099

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VERTICAL FILING APPARATUS BACKGROUND The inventionpertains generally to filing apparatus and more particularly to a filingapparatus for suspending one or more sheets of material in a generallyvertical zone.

It is frequently desirable to store pieces of sheet material as, forexample, engineering, architectural and construction plans, maps,swatches of fabric and the like. Such sheets of material are usuallybound or held by a clamp assembly or binder. In the prior art such clampassemblies have been removably mounted on bracket assemblies by slidingthe clamp assembly onto supporting surfaces of the bracket assembly. Onesuch prior art arrangement is shown, for example, in U. S. Pat. No.1,135,310 issued to A. H. Memmler on Apr. 13, 1915. One disadvantage ofsuch arrangements was that the clamp assembly was not easily inserted orremoved due to the metal-to-metal contact between it and the bracketassembly. In a different prior art arrangement, glide buttons have beenprovided on the bearing surface of the bracket assembly, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,309 issued May 25, 1965 to .I. R. Radek. Such glidebuttons are not totally satisfactory since there must be several of themon each bearing surface, they canbe accidentally detached, and they Ipresent a vertical surface that the end of the clamp assembly can hitwhen being inserted into the bracket assembly. Thus, it is desirablethat there be provided a vertical filing apparatus which overcomes theaforementioned problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY The present invention provides a vertical filing apparatus whichcomprises a support member having oppositely facing inturned flanges atits lower side, a clamp assembly including a longitudinal member havinga longitudinally extending groove in each side and dimensioned to allowthe longitudinal member to be positioned on the support member with theinturned flanges disposed in the grooves, and a plastic end cap at eachend of the longitudinal member and also having a longitudinallyextending groove in each side thereof, the plastic end cap having a topwall disposed at a level below the top wall of the grooves in thelongitudinal member to form a bearing surface at each side of the endcap for bearing on the inturned flanges during insertion and removal ofthe longitudinal member on the support member.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved verticalfiling apparatus in which the clamp assembly may be easily inserted andremoved from the bracket assembly.

Another object is to provide a filing apparatus which overcomes theabove-mentioned problems in the prior art.

A further object of this invention is'to provide afiling apparatushaving an improved bearing arrangement between the clamp assembly andbracket assembly.

These, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, willbecome apparent as the same becomes better understood from the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top elevational view of a filing apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the filing device 1 illustrated inFIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a plastic end caputilized in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation of a clampassembly utilized in the present invention; and

.FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the end cap shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION Reference is now made more particularly to the drawingswherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughoutthe several views. The embodiment of the filing apparatus illustratedincludes a bracket assembly, generally designated 9 for holding aplurality of clamp assemblies, generally designated 10. It should beunderstood that the invention could be embodied in a bracket assemblyfor supporting one such clamp assembly. The clamp assembly 10 isillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as holding in assembled relationship aplurality of sheets of material 12 such as drawings, plans, sheets offabric, and the like; it being understood that the device may be used toclamp a single sheet of material if desired.

In general, the clamp assembly 10 includes a longitudinal member 14,first and second gripping members or jaws l6 and 16', means forresiliently urging the gripping members apart such as compression spring18, and a T-headed bolt 19 and a .wing nut 20 threaded on the shankthereof for-moving the gripping members toward each other. A preferredembodiment of the gripping members is described in detail in my U. S.Pat. No. 3,308,831, issued Mar. 14, 1967, and reference is made theretofor a more complete description.

Preferably, longitudinal member 14 is elongated and has a generallychannel-shaped cross-section as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. Theelongated member includes side walls 21, 22 which are connected by topwall 23, The walls 21-23 have a generally smooth interior surface,especially adjacent each end, for a purpose which will hereafter becomeapparent. A longitudinally extending groove is located in each side wall21 and 22 intermediate the top and bottom thereof. Each groove has a topwall 24, a bottom wall 25 and an inner wall 26 extending between the topand bottom walls, asbest seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the preferredembodiment illustrated, each groove is preferably rectangular in crosssection.

A typical bracket assembly constructed in accordance with this inventionincludes a horizontally disposed stationary support 31, a plurality ofpivotally mounted arms 32 extending outwardly from the stationarysupport 31, and a support member 33 mounted on each arm 32. Thestationary support 31 may be fixed to a wall or other suitable mountingsurface in any suitable manner, and may comprise an elongated channelsection member having outwardly directed flanges 35, 35' provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced, vertically aligned pairs of openings36 (see FIG. 1).

The outwardly extending arm 32 is preferably formed of a channel sectionmember having upper and lower flanges 41, 41' and a generally triangularweb portion 42 (see FIG. 2). Flanges 41, 41' are spaced apart a distanceless than the flanges 35, 35 of the stationary support 31, and theflanges 41,41 are provided with a pair of vertically aligned openingstherein. A pin 44 passes through the aligned openings 36 in thestationary support and the aligned openings in the arm flanges 41, 41'to advantageously provide a pivotal connection between the arm 32 andthe stationary support 31. As best seen in FIG. 3, a washer 45 isconveniently provided between flange 41 and flange 35' to provide aconvenient bearing for said pivotal connection.

The support member 33 is advantageously in the form of a box-likestructure having a top wall 51 and generally parallel side walls 52, 53,depending therefrom, as best seen in FIGS, 3 and 5. Oppositely facing,inturned flanges 55, 56, are formed at the depending ends of side walls52, 53, respectively. Flanges 55, 56 are spaced apart to define adownwardly opening slot extending the full length of support member 33.The flanges 55, 56 and the grooves in the longitudinal member 14 aredimensioned to allow the longitudinal member 14 to be positioned on thesupport member 33 with the inturned flanges disposed in the grooves, asbest seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. In the embodiment illus trated, supportmember 33 is connected to arm 32 in any convenient manner with side wall53 contiguous to web 42, and top wall 51 contiguous to flange 41. Asshown in FIG. 2, support member 33 preferably extends in a horizontaldirection as does flange 41 at the upper edge or leg of triangular web42.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, support member 33 has a lengthless than the length of longitudinal member 14 of the clamp assembly,and is generally open at opposite ends. A stop 58, conveniently formedfrom a tab stamped out of web 42, as shown in FIG. 2, is positioned atthe rear end of support member 33 to prevent the longitudinal member 14of passing through the rear opening thereof.

A plastic end cap, generally designated 60, is located at each end ofthe longitudinal member 14. The plastic end caps have an end portion 61with an outer periphery coextensive with the outer periphery of thelongitudinal member 14. Each end portion 61 has a longitudinallyextending groove in each side thereof as best seen in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7.Each end cap groove has a bottom wall 62 and an inner wall 63coextensive with the bottom wall 25 and inner wall 26 of thecorresponding groove in the longitudinal member 14. Each end cap groovealso has a top wall 64 disposed at a level below the top wall 24 of thecorresponding groove in the longitudinal member 14, thereby forming abearing surface at each side of the end cap for bearing on the inturnedflanges 55 and 56 (see FIG. In this manner, the bearing surface 64 ofthe rearmost end cap 60 ride on the inturned flanges 55 and 56 duringinsertion and removal of the longitudinal member 14 on the supportmember 33. In this manner, the end cap 60 functions as a glide andminimizes any metal-to-metal contact, thereby providing for easierinsertion and removal of the longitudinal member 14. In the embodimentillustrated, there is a ramp 65 extending between the top wall 64 of theend cap groove to the top wall 24 of the groove in the longitudinalmember.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-7, it can be seen that the end cap 60 has anextension 71 with an outer surface generally coextensive with the innersurface of the longitudinal member 14. The extension 71 is dimensionedto provide a frictional engagement with the inner surface of thelongitudinal member and thereby provide means for mounting the end cap60 thereon. In the embodiment illustrated, the extension 71 has aplurality of longitudinally-extending spaced grooves 72 in its surfaceadjacent the inner surface of the longitudinal member to allow a slightcompression of the extension 71 so that it may more securelyfrictionally engage the longitudinal member 14.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the longitudinal member 14 has inwardly facinginternal grooves and 14b in which are pivotally mounted the grippers 16and 16. The extension 71 has a longitudinally-extending boss 73 on eachside thereof and positioned for fitting in the grooves 14a and 14b.

It will be noted by viewing FIG. 1, that each of the clamp assemblies 10is carried by a longitudinal member 33 each of which is pivotallymounted on the stationary support 31 in the manner described above.Thus, adjacent clamp assemblies 10 may be spaced apart so as to examinethe sheet material 12 held thereby. Such pivotal movement also providesadditional room, if necessary, for insertion of clamp assembly 10 intoits support member 33 or removal therefrom. It will be noted that theclamp assemblies are not supported adjacent their outer ends, andspreading apart of adjacent support members makes the clamp assemblyconveniently accessible for grasping a middle portion thereof forremoval from the support member 33. With the longitudinal member 14being mounted in grooves intermediate the upper and lower portionsthereof, it will be appreciated that the number of sheets or thethickness thereof does not effect the support of the clamp assembly 10on flanges 55, 56. In this manner it is possible to support a thicknessof sheet material even wider than the spacing of side walls 52, 53 ofsupport member 33.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, this has been done by way of illustration andnot limitation, and the invention should not be limited except asrequired by the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A filing apparatus for suspending one or more sheets of material in avertical zone and comprising:

a bracket assembly including:

a support member having at least one open end and oppositely-facinginturned flanges at the lower side, the flanges being spaced apart todefine a downwardly facing slot extending generally the full length ofthe support member, and

mounting means for mounting member in a horizontal plane;

the support a clamp assembly removably mounted on the bracket assemblyand including:

a longitudinal member having a length longer than the support member, awidth wider than said slot, and a longitudinally-extending groove ineach side thereof, each groove having top, bottom and inner walls, andthe grooves being dimensioned to allow the longitudinal member to bepositioned on the support member with the inturned flanges disposed inthe grooves, and

gripping means on the longitudinal member for gripping the sheet ofmaterial adjacent its edge; and

a plastic end cap at each end of the longitudinal member and having anouter periphery coextensive with the outer periphery of the longitudinalmember and a longitudinally-extending groove in each side thereof, eachend cap groove having a bottom wall and an inner wall coextensive withthe bottom wall and inner wall of the corresponding groove in thelongitudinal member, each end cap groove'also having a top wall disposedat a level below the top wall of the corresponding groove in thelongitudinal member and forming a bearing surface at each side of theend cap for bearing on the inturned flanges;

whereby the bearing surfaces of the end cap ride on the inturned flangesduring insertion and removal of the longitudinal member on the supportmember.

2. A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means formounting each plastic end cap on the respective end of the longitudinalmember.

3. A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the longitudinalmember has a generally uniform crosssection and an inner surface, andthe plastic end cap has an extension coextensive with said inner surfaceand contiguous thereto to provide the means for mounting the end cap.

4. A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the end capextension has spaced grooves in its surface adjacent the inner surfaceof the longitudinal member.

5. A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the longitudinalmember has an inwardly-facing internal groove at each side thereof, thegripping means comprises two jaws pivotally mounted in said internalgrooves, and the plastic end cap has a longitudinallyextending boss oneach side of its extension and disposed in said internal grooves.

6. A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the mounting meansincludes an upright stationary support provided with vertically spacedflanges having at least one pair of vertically-aligned openings therein,a

sheets of material, such as blue prints, and comprising in combination:

a clamp assembly for holding at least one sheet of material adjacent anedge thereof and including:

a downwardly opening, channel-shaped longitudinal member having alongitudinally-extending groove in each side thereof, each groove havingtop, bottom and inner walls, and

spacing gripping members operatively connected to the longitudinalmember adjacent the lower ends thereof;

a bracket assembly for supporting the clamp assembly and including:

an elongated box-shaped support member having a length shorter than thelongitudinal member, oppositely facing inturned flanges at the lowerside thereof defining a downwardly facing slot extending the full lengththereof, said slot being dimensioned to allow the longitudinal member tobe positioned on the support member with the inturned flanges disposedin the grooves, and the support member being open at both ends,

mounting means for mounting the support member in a horizontal plane,and

means at the rear end of the support member defining a stop thereat forthe longitudinal member; and

a plastic end cap at each end of the longitudinal member and having alongitudinally-extending groove at each side thereof, each end capgroove having a bottom wall and an inner wall coextensive with thebottom wall and inner wall of the corresponding groove in thelongitudinal member, each end cap groove also having a top wall disposedat a level below the top wall of the corresponding groove in thelongitudinal member and forming a bearing surface at each side of theend cap for bearing on the inturned flanges;

whereby the bearing surfaces of the end cap ride on the inturned flangesduring insertion and removal of the longitudinal member on the supportmember.

1. A filing apparatus for suspending one or more sheets of material in avertical zone and comprising: a bracket assembly including: a supportmember having at least one open end and oppositelyfacing inturnedflanges at the lower side, the flanges being spaced apart to define adownwardly facing slot extending generally the full length of thesupport member, and mounting means for mounting the support member in ahorizontal plane; a clamp assembly removably mounted on the bracketassembly and including: a longitudinal member having a length longerthan the support member, a width wider than said slot, and alongitudinallyextending groove in each side thereof, each groove havingtop, bottom and inner walls, and the grooves being dimensioned to allowthe longitudinal member to be positioned on the support member with theinturned flanges disposed in the grooves, and gripping means on thelongitudinal member for gripping the sheet of material adjacent itsedge; and a plastic end cap at each end of the longitudinal member andhaving an outer periphery coextensive with the outer periphery of thelongitudinal member and a longitudinally-extending groove in each sidethereof, each end cap groove having a bottom wall and an inner wallcoextensive with the bottom wall and inner wall of the correspondinggroove in the longitudinal member, each end cap groove also having a topwall disposed at a level below the top wall of the corresponding groovein the longitudinal member and forming a bearing surface at each side ofthe end cap for bearing on the inturned flanges; whereby the bearingsurfaces of the end cap ride on the inturned flanges during insertionand removal of the longitudinal member on the support member.
 2. Afiling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for mountingeach plastic end cap on the respective end of the longitudinal member.3. A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the longitudinalmember has a generally uniform cross-section and an inner surface, andthe plastic end cap has an extension coextensive with said inner surfaceand contiguous thereto to provide the means for mouNting the end cap. 4.A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the end cap extensionhas spaced grooves in its surface adjacent the inner surface of thelongitudinal member.
 5. A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 3wherein the longitudinal member has an inwardly-facing internal grooveat each side thereof, the gripping means comprises two jaws pivotallymounted in said internal grooves, and the plastic end cap has alongitudinally-extending boss on each side of its extension and disposedin said internal grooves.
 6. A filing apparatus as set forth in claim 5wherein the mounting means includes an upright stationary supportprovided with vertically spaced flanges having at least one pair ofvertically-aligned openings therein, a vertically disposed triangularshaped member having one leg of the triangle at the top thereofextending horizontally, and means extending through the aligned openingsin the stationary support and engaged with the triangular shaped memberfor pivotally mounting the same to the stationary support; means on thetriangular shaped member adjacent its one leg defining a stop whichengages the plastic end cap; and the support member being mounted on thetriangular shaped member with its rear end at the stop.
 7. A verticalfiling apparatus for use in the storage of sheets of material, such asblue prints, and comprising in combination: a clamp assembly for holdingat least one sheet of material adjacent an edge thereof and including: adownwardly opening, channel-shaped longitudinal member having alongitudinally-extending groove in each side thereof, each groove havingtop, bottom and inner walls, and spacing gripping members operativelyconnected to the longitudinal member adjacent the lower ends thereof; abracket assembly for supporting the clamp assembly and including: anelongated box-shaped support member having a length shorter than thelongitudinal member, oppositely facing inturned flanges at the lowerside thereof defining a downwardly facing slot extending the full lengththereof, said slot being dimensioned to allow the longitudinal member tobe positioned on the support member with the inturned flanges disposedin the grooves, and the support member being open at both ends, mountingmeans for mounting the support member in a horizontal plane, and meansat the rear end of the support member defining a stop thereat for thelongitudinal member; and a plastic end cap at each end of thelongitudinal member and having a longitudinally-extending groove at eachside thereof, each end cap groove having a bottom wall and an inner wallcoextensive with the bottom wall and inner wall of the correspondinggroove in the longitudinal member, each end cap groove also having a topwall disposed at a level below the top wall of the corresponding groovein the longitudinal member and forming a bearing surface at each side ofthe end cap for bearing on the inturned flanges; whereby the bearingsurfaces of the end cap ride on the inturned flanges during insertionand removal of the longitudinal member on the support member.